Scoreboard



Jan. 29, 1924. 1,481,916

' 1., D. LONG SCOREBOARD Filed Sept. 29. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IMIHLIHM m 1111 mm M WITNESSES" A TTOff/VEYS Jan. 29 19 4- L. D. LONG SCOREBOARD Filed Sept. 29, 1922 .3 m @m E 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN l/EN TOR 21k;

A TTORNE '75 Jan. 29, 1924.

L. D. LONG SCOREBOARD Filed Sept. 29. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 29, 1924.

UNITED STATES LEONARD 1). LONG, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SCOREBOARD.

Application filed September 29, 1922. Serial No. 591,383.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD D. Leave, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charleston, in the county of Charleston and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scoreboards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to 'score boards for base-ball games which are adapted to be erected at one end of the field and visible to the spectators, and an object of the invention is the provision of a housing for an operator and which is provided with an indicator plate having a plurality of openings and co-operating slides adapted to be manipulated by the, operatorfor giving certain information relative to the base-ball game. j

A further object of the invention is the provision of a housing for the operator and an indicator plate forming the front of the housing, the indicator plate being provided with a plurality of openings closable by slides which are supplied with indicia furnishing information to the spectators as to the progress of the game, the various slides being operated by mechanism, the manipulating means of which is concentrated about the seat of the operator. 7

Another object-of the invention is the provision of an indicator board which furnishes such information as the position of the play ers on the field with the players being numbered, which numbers correspond to numbers on a program furnished by the ballpark, whereby not only the position of the player is known but the bat-ting order of the several opposing teams will likewise be displayed to all the spectators. The indicator plate is provided with movable means for disclosing the number of strikes, balls and the number of players struck out with movable means for disclosing the number of runs made by each team.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the indicator plate forming the front of the housing,

Figure 2 is a rear view of the plate dis-- closing the operating means,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4; is an end fragmentary view in perspective disclosing the operating means for the slides disposed at opposite ends of the indicator plate,

Figure 5 is a'view in perspective of the movable indicator for furnishing information relative to the number of players put out in an inning,

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the indicator furnishing the number of balls,

Figure 7 is a section taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 1, and

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the indicator plate, which forms the front of the housing for the operator of the indicator. The housing comprises a floor 2 and a roof 3 which'extends rearwardly from the plate 1, but falls short of the ends of the indicator plate so that a portion at the opposite ends of the plate is left uncovered.

Adjacent the upper end of the indicator plate is provided a pair of openings 4 and 5. The guides 6 are shown embracing three sides of the periphery of said openings for the reception of plates 8 and 9. These plates are removable and are adapted to be supplied with certain indicia which indicates the names of the opposing teams playing the game. Below the openings 4 and 5 are located a plurality of horizontal rows of openings with the horizontal rows arranged in vertical columns. 'As shown in Figure 1 the vertical column of openings 10 are arranged adjacent the vertical column of openings 11 with the track or guide 12 mounted at the rear of said openings and embracing the opposite ends of the adjacent opening and the lower peripheraledge of said openings. .A slide 13 is mounted in each of the tracks 12 and is movable to close either of the openings 10 or 11. The front face of each slide 13 is provided with numbers which indicate the number of a player, whereby each player may be recognized.

In connection with the indicator plate a program is printed and supplied with a column of figures with the name of each player of both teams arranged opposite a number so that in reading the number in the column on slide 13 and referring to the program the number and name of the player will be known.

On the back of each slide is secured an eye 14 which is adapted to receive a hook 15 secured to a cable 16. A cable is entrained over a pulley 17 mounted on the rear face of the indicator plate 1 and provided at one end with a weight 18 which tends to draw the cable over the pulley 17 and move the slide before the opening 10. The other end of the cable 15, as shown in Figure 2, is entrained over pulleys 19 and 20 mounted on the rear face of the indicator plate and brought vertically downward to a point adjacent to the operators seat 21.

Each one of the plates is supplied with the counterweighted flexible means for causing alternate closing of the openings 10 and 11 and which are trained over separate pulleys 19 and 20 and provided at their ends with an enlargement 22 which engages a hook 23 secured to a. vertical bar 24. The weights 18 tend to move the slide 13 over the opening 10 and since the enlargement 22 engages the hook 23 the slide 13 is maintained in. position over the opening 11. hen the operator releases the enlargement 22 from the hook 23 the weightwill carry the slide 13 before the opening 10.

Similar columns of horizontal rows of openings are disposed at the opposite end of the indicator plate 1 with similar slides disposed to alternately close. either of said openings, the side being provided with indicia for indicating the number which designates the various players in an opposing team.

Adjacent the vertical column of openings 11 which are disposed on opposite ends of the board or indicator plate is a third vertical column of openings 25. Upon the rear of the indicator plate and embracing three sides of the periphery of the openings are disposed guides 26 into which are inserted the slides 27. Each of the slides are provided with indicia indicating the position of the several players of each team and in the batting order.

Between the vertical columns of openings and adjacent the lower end of the indicator plate 1 are disposed two horizontal columns of openings. The elongated opening to the left of the first column is covered by a slide 28 movable in the guide 29. Said slide is 1 provided with indicia indicating one of the teams while the opening below the last named opening in likewise provided with a guide 29 adapted to receive aslide 30 which is provided with indicia indicating the name of the opposing team.

Opposite the slide 28 and in the same horizontal plane are a plurality of smaller openings adapted to be closed by slides 31 and provided with indicia indicating the number of runs scored in each inning by the team whose name is located on the slide 28.

In the same horizontal plan with the slide 30 are a plurality of openings adapted to he closed by slides 32 mounted in tracks 33 on the rear face of the indicator plate and provided with indicia indicating the number of runs scored in each inning by the team inclicated by the slide 30. Numerals from 1 to 10 are printed above each of the openings 31 and 32 to indicate the number of innings. Above the openings 31 and located substantially centrally of the indicator plate is an opening 34. At the rear of said opening is located an indicator 35 in the shape of a cube with the numerals one, two, three and naught printed upon its four vertical faces. The indicator 35 is mounted upon a shaft 36 which is provided with bearings formed on the rear face of the indicator plate. A

wheel 37 rigidly connected to the shaft- 36 is adapted to provide means for manually rotating the shaft and likewise placing one of the faces of the indicator 35 before the opening 34 and to display the number of balls given a. player while at the bat. The wheel 37, as shown in Figure 2, is located within easy reach of the operators seat 21. A vertical shaft 38 mounted in bearings upon the rear face of the indicator plate is provided with an indicator 39 in the form of a prism having disposed upon its three vertical faces such indicia as 0, 1 and 2. The indicator 39 is adapted to consecutively dis play before an opening 47 in the indicator plate the number of players put out during an inning. A pulley 41 rigidly connected with the shaft 38 is adapted to be operated through a flexible connection 42 by a handwheel 43.

A third shaft 44 mounted in bearings on the rear face of the indicator plate is pro vided with an indicator 45 in the shape of a prism with the three vertical faces of the prism being provided with indicia such as 0, 1, and 2, for indicating the number of strikes received by a player at bat. A handwheel 46 rigidly connected with the shaft 44 located within easy reach of the operator is r 1 adapted to be manipulated for rotating the shaft 44 and displaying the three faces alternately before the opening 40 in the indicator plate 1. A sight opening 48 is dis posed between the openings 40 and 47 and on a level with the eyes of the operator, whereby he may inspect the position of the players and watch the game for correcting errors that may have been telephoned to him through the receiver 49. The receiver 49 is, connected to the press box in the grand-stand and it is through this means that the operator of the indicator receives his information relative to the several plays in the game. The corners of the indilIlU screen 50 is located to the rear of the ver tical columns 10 and 11 upon opposite sides of the indicator plate 1 for preventing the spectators from seeing the operator. The partition 50 also prevents light from shining through either of the openings 10 or 11 when the slide is disposed upon one oi the openlngs. I

Doors 51 are connected with the partitions 52 to provide an entrance to the room 53 in which the seat 21 of the opera-tor is located.

It will be noted that the manipulating means 22 of the slides 13 and the manipulating means for the various indicators35, 39, and 4C5 are located within the control board 54-. I

It will be seen that the indicator device is not merely a flat board upon which the different slides are located, but the same comprises a room thoroughly enclosed whereby the operator and the parts of the device are protected from the weather.

I claim:

1. In an indicator for imparting information relative to a base ball ga1ne,-com'- prising a housing forming an enclosure for an operator of the indicator, a centrallydisposed seat within the housing, an indicator plate forming the front of the housing and provided with a pluralitycof horizontal rows of openings arran 'ed in vertical columns and at opposite ends of the indicator plate, removable slides covering the ope-ningsin one of thevertical columns and provided with indicia indicating the field position of the several players, each horizontal row of the other vertical columns of" openings being provided with a common slide adapted to alternately cover one of the openings in each horizontal row, operating means for the last mentioned slides having manipulating means concentrated about the seat of the operator, a plurality of openings in the indicator plate disposed between the two sets of vertical columns of openings and rotatable indicating means before each' of said openings provided with indicia for indicating the number of strikes, number of balls and the number of men struck out in an inning, and means for operating the last mentioned indicators having manipulating means within reach of the operators seat, the indicator plate being provided with a plurality of horizontal rows of openings arranged below the last mentioned openings and movable slides adapted to close the openings and provided with indicia for indicating the names of the opposing teams with certain of said slides arranged in the same horizontal plane with the slide indicating the name of the team for supplying information relative to the number, ofruns made by said team duringthe severalinnings of the game. 1

2. In an indicator for imparting information relative to a base ball game, comprising a housing forming an enclosure for an operator of the indicator, a centrally disposed seat in the housing, an indicator plate forming the front of said housing, said'in dicator being provided with a plurality of horizontal "rows of openings arranged in vertical columns and at opposite ends of the indicator plate, slides movable to alternately close an opening in one of the horizontal rows, coimterweighted flexible means tor causing the slides to be alternately disposed before an opening in one ofthe columns, said flexible means being provided with manipulating means concentrated about the seat of the operator, a plurality of openings 3 arranged between the two vertical columns of openings and provided with indicating means to the rear of said openings, means for operating said indicators for disclosing the number of strikes and balls credited to a player and the number of out during an inning. q

' 3. In an indicator for imparting information relative to a base-ball game, comprlsingan indicator plate provided with a plurality of horizontal rows of openings arplayers struck ranged in vertical columns, slides for each horizontal row adapted to'alternately close one of'the openings in each row, counterweighted flexible means causing the slides to be alternately disposed'before an opening in onset the horizontal rows, the indicator plate beingprovided with a plurality of openings located between the vertical column of openings, shafts mounted in bearings adjacent each of said last-mentioned openings, a polygonal-faced indicator mounted on each shaft and in alignment with the lastmentioned openings, each indicator being provided with indicia adapted to be consecutively displayed before the openings, and means for operating the shaft and for causing the indicators to be revolved adjacent and through their respective openings.

4;. An' indicator for imparting information relative to a base-ball game, comprising an indicator plate provided with a plurality of horizontal rows of openings arranged in vertical columns and at opposite ends of the indicator plate, removable slides adapted to cover one opening in each horizontal row and provided with indicia indicating the field position of the various players of the opposing team, tracks mounted adjacent a portion of the periphery of the other openings in each horizontal row, a slide movable in the tracks for alternately closing the lastmentioned openings, said slide being provided with indicia indicating the player, counterweighted flexible means for causing 5. In an indicator for imparting informa-;

tion relative to a base-ball game, comprising a housing forming an enclosure for an operator of the indicator, a centrally. dis- ,posedseat in the housing, an indicator plate forming the, front of said housing, said in 'dicator being provide'dwith a plurality of horizontal rows of openings arranged. in vertical columns and at opposite ends of the indicator plate, slides movable to alternately.

close-an opening in one of the horizontal rows, conterweighted flex1ble means for causing the slides to be alternately disposed before an opening in one of the columns,

said flexible means being provided with,

manipulating means concentrated about the seat of the operator, and screens vertically disposed. andarranged to the rear of the vertical columns of openings at the opposite end of the indicator plate.

6. An indicatorlfor imparting informa.-,

tion relative to .a base-ball game, comprisralityot' horizontal rows of openings with.

the horizontal rows arranged in vertical collmns, one. of the openings in each horizontal row forming a vertical row and provided with a track along a portion of its periplr, ery,.- a slide movably. mounted in the track and provided. with indicia indicating the poing the indicating means throng sition of a player, the other.openings-ofeach, horizontal row being provided .W1l3l1 a track. nounted adpicent aportion of its periph ery, a slide movable on the track and adapt- ,ed to alternately close one of the openings in each horizontal row, eyes secured to the rear face of each slide, a pluralityof pulleys.

secured to the rear face of the indicator plate, a plurality of cables entrained over certain of the. pulleys with the inner end a restraining hook secured in a fiXedposi-.

tion adjacent the center of the indicator of the cable provided with an enlargement,

connected to the outer end of each cable and adapted to move a slide from one opening to a second opening in the horizontal row cable is released from its restraining hook engaging the enlargement.

. hen the enlargement on the end of the 7. An indicator for imparting informam tion relative to a base-ball game, a housing comprising an indicator plate forming the,

:front of the housing, rear and side Walls and a roof, doors arranged to form entrances in the side walls, an operators seat mounted :within the housing, saidindicator plate being an indicator plate provided with a plu-m ing provided with a plurality of openings,

meansarranged to display indicia through the openings. and means for concentrated operation at the seat for selectively display the Various openings.

LEONARD D. LONG 

